MLB News

Freese won't rub it in with ex-Rangers on Angels

By
Alden GonzalezMLB.com

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Six players from that epic seven-game 2011 World Series are now in camp with the Angels, with three from the Rangers (Josh Hamilton, C.J. Wilson, Yorvit Torrealba) and three from the Cardinals (Albert Pujols, David Freese, Fernando Salas).

The hero from that Fall Classic promises that when it comes to the former Rangers who are now his teammates, all that is in the rearview mirror.

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Six players from that epic seven-game 2011 World Series are now in camp with the Angels, with three from the Rangers (Josh Hamilton, C.J. Wilson, Yorvit Torrealba) and three from the Cardinals (Albert Pujols, David Freese, Fernando Salas).

The hero from that Fall Classic promises that when it comes to the former Rangers who are now his teammates, all that is in the rearview mirror.

"They're Angels," Freese, who batted .348/.464/.696 as the 2011 World Series MVP, said upon arriving to Angels camp on Sunday morning. "I don't even really think about the World Series too much anymore."

Freese carried a historic postseason performance into a highly productive 2012 season that saw him bat .293/.372/.467. Last year, though, he bruised his tailbone flipping over a railing in Spring Training, started the season on the disabled list, lost a lot of his range at third base, saw his slash line drop to .262/.340/.381 in the regular season, then posted a .526 OPS in the Cardinals' run to the World Series.

He's fully healthy now, with a fresh state of mind.

"There's an excitement, an edge, I have coming here," Freese said. "It's going to help mentally."